One year has made a big difference for Yorkville’s TJ Harland.
Harland started last season splitting time at tailback and fullback, doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that — whatever the team needed — until injuries led to him getting increased playing time.
Coach Dan McGuire remembers that timeline vividly.
“Toward the end of the season, I’d say the final five weeks, he carried much of the load,” McGuire said of Harland.
When the season ended, Harland shared the team rushing lead with senior Luke Zook, both with 348 yards, as the Foxes finished 4-5 and ended a streak of five straight playoff appearances.
Zook, who was a two-way starter with much of his focus on defense at safety, graduated and has moved on this fall to Lindenwood.
And Harland?
He’s becoming the main main for Yorkville (3-0), but the 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior speedster’s versatility is allowing him to do a little bit more of this and more of that this year, too.
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“He actually has played fullback, tailback and wide receiver,” McGuire said. “He’s extremely physical, has great hands and obviously runs well. He has good speed and has really good vision.
“Tailbacks sometimes love to run away from people, but he runs to create contact, if that makes any sense.”
It likely helps explain why Harland relishes blocking nearly as much as carrying the ball.
He’s come a long way, literally and figuratively, since his family that includes three younger brothers moved to Yorkville from Bolingbrook when he started eighth grade.
As a freshman, Harland attended Mount Carmel and played quarterback.
“It was a hassle but definitely worth it,” Harland said of a commute that could top 90 minutes with a 50-minute drive to his bus stop for another 40-minute ride to the school. “I got a lot out of it, but making that trip every day was pretty hard and made for some long days.
“It was a lot more mental than physical dealing with it.”
And one year was enough, leading him to Yorkville.
Harland has been a key as the Foxes opened with three straight wins — 14-7 and 14-13 nail-biters over St. Patrick and Minooka, respectively, sandwiched around a 27-13 win over Joliet West.
Harland has run for two touchdowns in each game with 38 carries for 225 yards. He also has 10 catches for 154 yards and four TDs from junior quarterback Jack Beetham.
Harland’s 35-yard TD catch in the final two minutes against Minooka erased a 13-6 deficit.
“I love the pressure of the close games,” said Beetham, a second-year starter who has thrown for 552 yards for five TDs with no interceptions. “But that 14-13 game was really stressful. I knew that last drive, if we called that play, it was gonna be wide open for TJ because it’s worked for us a lot.
“TJ had a couple drops last year, but he put in a lot of work this offseason to make him better and it’s helped his confidence. He’s making an impact on the ground and catching the ball for us.”
Harland’s attitude, meanwhile, stands out to McGuire.
“TJ could play any skill position on the field and contribute because he’s really, really versatile,” McGuire said. “But if only gets five carries, he wouldn’t care.
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“I’ve never heard him once say anything negative or complain.”
Harland, who wants to continue his football journey at the next level, has an offer from Olivet Nazarene. He’s received interest from Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Illinois State and Butler.
First, he’s eyeing a return to the playoffs for the Foxes.
“I tell coach all the time, I’ll play any position he needs me to play to help the team win,” Harland said. “I feel I’m good at both running back and receiver, but I can throw and I’ll play defense, too.”